THE COMMONWEALTH government has announced a $12.6 billion investment to expand the vocational education and training sector and implement reforms to address critical skills needs.
The funding is part of the five-year National Skills Agreement, which will take effect from January. The NSA was developed under principles agreed by National Cabinet.
Included in the funding is $2.4 billion in flexible funding to support state and territory skills sectors with capacity to deliver skills for critical and emerging industries such as clean energy and Australia’s sovereign capability.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the National Skills Agreement would bring people together from all over the country to address the common challenges faced by all of us.
“We need to train Australians for the jobs of today as well as the jobs of tomorrow,” he said.
“This important National Skills Agreement, alongside our very successful fee-free TAFE places, will mean more boilermakers, more chefs, more aged care workers, more childcare workers, and more Australians with the skills that they need, but also the skills that our economy needs.”
Maritime skills imperative
MIAL CEO Angela Gillham says the new agreement has the potential to provide the critical uplift needed to begin shoring up Australian maritime skills and capability to meet industry demand.
“If the Albanese Government is serious about Australia moving towards a net-zero economy with sovereign capability, then it is vital that part of the $2.4 billion is dedicated to addressing the critical maritime skills shortage facing the nation,” she said.
“There is an urgent need to address this critical skills shortage, which is not only impacting on existing businesses seeking these skills, but also has the potential to put the brakes on offshore resource projects, decommissioning activity and, importantly, the nation’s ability to develop the offshore wind industry that is so important in achieving out net zero goals.”
